The bistro, a $500,000 project, will open at noon on Wednesday at the Portage cinema, 6600 Ring Road. It will sell eight kinds of sliders, sides, desserts and feature a full bar. Steve VanWagoner, Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations for the Grand Rapids-based Celebration! Cinemas, which owns and operates 10 theaters in six markets, said he expects a big reaction from movie-goers.

The bistro will be located at the back of the main lobby where the old concession stand was located.

"It's taking what was the concession stand and flipping it
upside down and making a totally different idea of the movie-going experience," he said.

VanWagoner said patrons will place their order and be handed a pager, which will vibrate when the order is up.

"We'll begin to educate our guests to get here a few minutes
early to order their food before their show starts," VanWagoner said.

He said the food and beverage service will be available whenever a film is running.

A trio of gourmet sliders will be $10 or $11. The varieties include Turkey Reuben, Chicken, Pulled Pork and Asian Zinger.

The "signature sides" will range from $5 to $9, VanWagoner said. Some of the options include pub fries, sweet potato fries and portabello mushrooms.

The desserts are $4 and $5 and include cheesecake, cookies and sundaes.

Pop, popcorn and candy will still be sold at the bistro, VanWagoner said.

Drinks at the bar will be between $5 and $8. VanWagoner said the bistro will serve wine, mixed drinks and beer, including Michigan craft beer.

VanWagoner said the cinema plans to emphasize local ingredients and Michigan-made products on its food and drink menu. He pointed to the sweet potato fries, which are served with a maple aioli that uses maple syrup from Jack and Jill's Sugar Bush in Paw Paw.

VanWagoner said the timing of Oscar's Bistro opening is coincidental to the arrival of Alamo Drafthouse, which is now due to open in November.

"We started talking about this a couple years ago," he said.

In 2012, Celebration! Cinema opened its first Oscar's Bistro at the Studio C! location in Okemos.

"Immediately it just went so well, we said, 'What other
locations can we fit this model in?' Crossroads came to mind because the layout
works so well," VanWagoner said.

He added, "It's not new to us or the industry, but it's new to Portage. It'll be interesting to see how our guests adjust to it."